Office-desk.



Patented Iuly 2, I90I. J. B. RDHRER.

OFFICE DESK.

(Application tiled Oct. 8, 1900.)

' 2 Sheets-Shree* I.

(H0 Model.)

'ma anms Pmns ce.. PHOTO-urne.. wlnsmnnron, u, c.

No. 677,802. Patented luly 2, 190|.

J. B. RCI-HEER.

ori-'Ica DESK.

(Application filed. Oct. B, 1900.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

FHS-.5

MTNESSEG- o( INVENTOR- in which- Idefinitely maintained in such position after UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

ELWOOD ROHRER,

oFFlcE or sAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming pm of Letters Patent No. 677,802, dated July 2, 1901.

Application ined ocaber s. 1900.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN B. ROHRER, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, -have invented an Improvement in Office-Desks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to ofce-desks; and it consists of certain improvements fully set forth inl the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, Whic form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction of desk which shall obviate the employment of long drawers in the pedestal portions and substitute therefor drawers of short or reasonable length, combined with a vertically-adjustable frame at the back portion of the desk and extending downward to the rear of the pedestal-drawers, which frame may be provided with a series of compartments or auxiliary drawers.

In the preferred form of A my invention I counterbalance the vertically adjustable frame and provide a suitable foot-power device to enable me to raise or lower the said frame to any desired position, so as to expose the drawers or compartments in the lower part of said frame for access thereto at a point above the writing-surface of the said desk. I furthermore provide a suitable locking device for holding the said frame in any of its adjusted positions, so that it may be inbeing adjusted. In this manner the movable frame may be provided with a complete set of bill and letter files, any of which may be quickly and easily brought into position to admit of access.

My invention also comprehends various details of construction, all of which will be better understood by reference to the drawings,

Figure l is a front elevation of a desk embodying my invention with the upper part thereof broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of 'same on line 2 2. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional plan view through the upper'portion of same on lineS 3. Fig. 4 is a front elevation ofthe vertically-adjustable frame. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the footpower mechanism. Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation showing the details of the locking Serial No. 32,380. (No model.)

device for holding the adjustable frame in position, and Fig.v 7 is a sectional plan view of a portion of same.

vA is 'the main frame of the desk.

B B are the pedestal portions, having the usual drawers or other construction commonly in use.

A is the sliding lid and is made of slats in the usual way.

Cl is an upper compartment extending' above what is normally the top -of roll-top desks and is provided With an upwardly-extending guide structure F, into which the roll top or slide A may be guided whenthe desk is opened. The drawers of the pedestal parts are made of short length, so as to leave a compartment C the full width of the desk and have a considerable depth to the rear of the drawers or pedestals. This compartment C is in eect extended to the extreme upper compartment C', and intermediate of the bottom and top portions it opens at the frontvonto the writing portion or table- D is a rectangular frame guided vertically in the compartments C C and-adapted to assume any vertical position therein. This frame in the position shown in Fig. 2 has the parts H, h, and I formed in the appearance corresponding to the ordinary rear portion of the desk as commonly found on the market; but the lower portion which extends down- Ward into the compartment C is provided with a large number of compartments or drawers,- which may be used for letter or bill files and are normally shielded from view and protected against dirt and dust. This frame D is hung from the lower ends of the chains d, said chains passing over wheels E at the upper part of compartment C of the desk and are counterweighted at e, said counterweights sliding in vertical guides V"c at the extreme back of the desk. By this moans Very little power is necessary for raising the frame D, and this power is conveniently applied by means of the mechanism now to be described. A cable K is connected to the upper part of the frame D, and after passing over a pulleyc at the top of the compartment C it extends downward about the periphery of the wheel J and is attached thereto. The wheel J has upon each side a small pulley L,

Ioo

attached to the peripheral surfaces of which are bands l, the other or free ends thereof being secured to the segmental arc-shaped end m of a foot-lever M. It will now be seen that by depressing the free end ofthe lever M the pulley J will be rotated, taking up the cable K and lifting the frame D. By employing the large pulley .I and small pulleys L a small movement of lthe lever M will secure a large movement of the vframe D. Any other means for elevating the frame D may be employedif so desired, that shown being given as a good example of a simple way of accomplishing the result. The frame D is locked in its various positions by means of the following devices: To the side of the frame D, I provide a vertical rod N, which slides between a fixed jaw O on the main frame of the desk and an adjustable p jframe of the desk having the usual pedestal or pedestals at the forward part and a vertizo jaw P, which is moved by means of a rodp and hand-lever S against the action ofaspring R. (More clearly shown in Fig. 6.) The spring R normally causes the jaws O P to clamp' the rod N- and hold the frame Din whatever position it may be. By pressing in on the lever S the rod N isreleased, and the frame D may then be elevated or allowed to descend. Anyothersuitablelockingorlatching mechanism may be employed to hold the frame Din the proper adjustable position. It is evident that the mere pulling outward to a smallextent of one of the drawers or files G would lock the frame D in its elevated position while the contents of any of the other beingexamined. I do, not confine myself to any particular design or minor details of the configuration l or construction ot' the desk proper, as all of o these may be modified or varied without departing from the principles of the invention.

Having now described my invention', what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a desk, the combination of the lmain frame of the desk having the usual pedestal or pedestals at the forward part and a vertical covered compartment at its rear portion of greater height than the table portion of the desk, with a vertically-adjustable frame guided in said vertical compartment and provided with one or more compartments a portion of which are normally exposed and at all times above the writing-table of the desk and v a portion shielded back of the pedestal pordrawers above the writing-table portion were f tions thereof, and power devices for adjusting the vertically-adjustable frame in its compartment.

3. In a desk, the combination of the main frame of the desk having the usual pedestal or pedestals at the forward part and a verticai covered compartment at its rear portion of greater height than the table portion of the' desk, with a vertically-adjustable frame guided in said vertical compartment and providedy with one ormore compartments a portion of which are normally exposed and at all times above the writing-table' of the desk and a portion shielded back of the pedestal por- 'tions thereof, power devices for adjusting the vertically-adjustable frame `in its compartment, and counterweights for counterbalancing the vertically-adjustable frame.

4.. In a desk, the combination of the vmain cal covered compartment at its rear portion i of greater height than thetable portion of l the desk, withv a vertically-adjustable frame guided in said vertical compartment and provided with oneor more compartments a porf tion'of which are normally exposed 'and at all L times above the writing-table of the desk and a portion shielded back of the pedestal por` tions thereof, power devices for adjusting the vertically-adjustable frame in its comparti ment, and a` locking device for holding the vertically-adjustable frame in any adjusted g position desired.

5. In a desk, the combination of the main the desk, with a vertically-adjustable frame guided in said vertical compartment and provided with one or more compartments a pore y, tion of which are normally exposed and at all l times above the writing-table of the desk and a portion shielded back of the pedestal portions thereof, power devicesfor adjusting the' vertically-adjustable frame in its compartment,

i consisting of a pulley at the top of the rear 3 compartment of the desk, a cable connected l with the adjustable frame and guided over said pulley, a lever structure at the lower l part of the desk, a large pulley to the periphi ery of which the cable is attached, a small pulley secured to the large pulley, and a band secured to the peripheryl of the small pulley I at one end to the lever at the other end,where by a small movement of the lever produces a large movement of the adjustable frame.

6. In a desk, the combination of the main frame having a shallow writing-table portion and a vertical inclosed compartment at the rear of the deskextending both above and below said table portion, and open at the front immediately at the table portion for a part of its height above the table portion, a vertically-adjustable frame adapted to said vertical compartment and provided with shelves or divisions, and means foradjnsting the said frame vertically in said compartment.

7. In a desk, the combination of the main frame having ka shallow Writing-table portion and a vertical inclosed compartment at the rear of the desk extending both above and below the said table portion and open at the front immediately at the table portion, for a part of its'height above the table portion,a vertically-adjustable frame adapted to said compartment and provided with shelves or divisions, connterbalancing devices for coun.-

terbalancing the adjustable frame but not suiicient to normally elevate it whereby it may descend by gravity when released, locking devices for locking the frame in its adjusted position, and means for adjusting the said frame vertically in said compartment.

In -'testimony of which invention I havezo hereunto set my hand.

JOHN B. ROHRER.

Witnesses:

ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, J. W. KENWORTHY. 

